Stokke Tripp Trapp Review The High Chair That Grows to a Lifetime Seat
A full review of the Stokke Tripp Trapp — the iconic Norwegian high chair in continuous production since 1972. We look at the design rationale, ergonomics, the true all-in cost, how it performs in practice, and whether its premium is justified versus the IKEA Antilop and Joie Mimzy.
The Stokke Tripp Trapp is the best high chair in the world if you define “best” as lifetime ergonomics, build quality that outlasts the children who use it, and a design so well-resolved that it has been essentially unchanged since 1972. If you define “best” as value for the high chair years specifically, the IKEA Antilop at £20 or the Joie Mimzy Snacker at £59 are better answers. The Tripp Trapp is the right chair for families who want a single chair from weaning to adulthood, who will keep it for second and third children, and who are buying it knowing the net cost per year of use is lower than it initially appears.
① Full Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chair price | From £299 (chair only, no accessories) |
| Age range | 6 months (with baby set) to adult — lifetime |
| Material | Solid European beech wood |
| Adjustment | Infinitely adjustable seat board and footrest |
| Weight capacity | 136kg (adult use) |
| Tray | Not included — optional add-on (£39) |
| Baby set (harness + rail) | Not included — required for under-3s (£69) |
| Seat cushion | Not included — optional (£39) |
| Recline | No — upright only |
| Folds flat | No |
| Guarantee | 7 years |
| Resale value | £100–£200 second-hand |
② Design — 50 Years of Refinement
Peter Opsvik designed the original Tripp Trapp in 1972 with a straightforward principle: create a chair that genuinely fits the child rather than approximating fit with adjustable harnesses and padded inserts. The result is two horizontal boards — seat and footrest — that slide along angled side rails to position the child at the precise height and depth for their current size. As the child grows, the boards move. The chair does not change — only the board positions.
This mechanism means the Tripp Trapp achieves correct ergonomic positioning at every stage of growth in a way that no padded high chair with preset height positions can match. At 6 months with the baby set, the child sits at table height, integrated into family mealtimes. At 18 months without the baby set, the seat board and footrest are repositioned slightly as the child grows. At 5 years, repositioned again. At 12 years, sitting as at any adult chair. The mechanism is as relevant at 15 years as at 6 months.
The beech wood construction is the other non-negotiable element of the design. Solid wood does not flex, crack under normal use, or degrade over time in the way plastic and steel frames do. Tripp Trapps bought in the 1980s are still in daily use in families across Scandinavia — the chair genuinely lasts a lifetime when maintained.
③ Ergonomics — Why the Footrest Matters Most
The Tripp Trapp’s ergonomic advantage over every other chair reviewed here comes down to one element: the infinitely adjustable footrest. Paediatric occupational therapists and feeding specialists consistently identify foot support as the most important single factor in a child’s comfort and engagement during mealtimes. A child with supported feet has a stable base, can maintain an upright trunk without effort, and can focus attention on eating rather than balance. A child with dangling feet tires faster, slouches more, and is more easily distracted.
The Tripp Trapp’s footrest slides to any position on the rail — not to four preset positions, but to exactly the right height for the child’s leg length at any given moment. As legs grow millimetre by millimetre, the footrest can be adjusted to match. This precision is not achievable with a four-position adjustable footrest. The difference in practice is subtle but real — children tend to sit longer and more comfortably in a Tripp Trapp than in chairs where the footrest is approximating the right height rather than matching it exactly.
④ Add-Ons — The True All-In Cost
The most important thing to know before buying a Stokke Tripp Trapp is that the £299 price does not include everything needed for use with a young baby. The full picture:
Chair + baby set minimum: £368. Chair + baby set + tray + cushion: £446. Against the Joie Mimzy’s all-in £59. The Tripp Trapp’s strong second-hand market (£100–£200 resale) narrows the net cost gap significantly — but the upfront outlay is substantial and families should budget for accessories, not just the chair.
⑤ Longevity and Resale Value
The Tripp Trapp’s longevity claim is not marketing — it is documented. Stokke has sold the same chair in essentially unchanged form since 1972. All accessories made after 2003 are compatible with all chairs made after 2003 — a 22-year accessory compatibility window. The beech wood frame develops minor surface marks with heavy use but does not structurally weaken. The adjustment mechanism — sliding boards along rails tightened by bolts — is serviceable with a standard Allen key and requires tightening every 3–6 months of active use.
Resale value is the financial metric that genuinely changes the Tripp Trapp’s value proposition. A Tripp Trapp bought new for £299 and sold after three years of high chair use retains £100–£150 in second-hand value — a net cost of £150–£200 for three years of use, or approximately £50–£67 per year. For families keeping it through two or more children or using it into school age, the per-year cost falls further. A Joie Mimzy at £59 sells second-hand for £10–£20 — a net cost of £39–£49 for the same three years.
⑥ vs IKEA Antilop and Joie Mimzy
The three-way choice between these chairs has a clear decision framework. If you want the best cleaning ease and the lowest price — IKEA Antilop (£20 + footrest add-on). If you want the best complete budget chair with features included — Joie Mimzy Snacker (£59). If you want the best ergonomics, build quality, and a chair that will still be in use when your child leaves for university — Stokke Tripp Trapp.
The Tripp Trapp is not the best chair for every family — it is the best chair for families who value exactly what it offers: lifetime use, a design that treats the child as deserving an adult-quality piece of furniture, and an ergonomic precision that cheaper chairs cannot match.
The best high chair in the world for families who will use it beyond the weaning years. Buy it second-hand for the best value proposition.
The Stokke Tripp Trapp’s 9.3 — the highest score of any high chair we have reviewed — reflects that it is genuinely excellent in the dimensions that matter most over time: ergonomics, build quality, and longevity. The value score of 7.8 reflects the honest reality that the upfront cost is substantial and the value proposition is strongest for families who will use the chair for multiple children and many years.
Our single most useful recommendation for Tripp Trapp buyers: buy second-hand. A well-maintained Tripp Trapp bought for £100–£120 with baby set included gives you everything the new chair provides at a price that makes the net cost calculation obviously better than any alternative. The chair’s durability means second-hand condition is typically excellent.
